Moriya Jutanugarn Bio
Moriya Jutanugarn is a Thai professional golfer who has competed on the LPGA Tour since 2013. She first drew international attention in 2009 when she became the first female golfer to win the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy, a result that signaled her arrival as a teenage prospect. In 2013, she was named LPGA Rookie of the Year, and she has since added three victories to her professional resume. She is widely recognized alongside her sister, Ariya Jutanugarn, as one half of one of the notable sister pairs in modern women’s golf.
Born and raised in Bangkok, Moriya turned professional in 2012 and has built a steady career on the LPGA Tour, where she has been a consistent presence in the field for more than a decade. Standing 5 feet 1 inch tall, she has competed against players who often tower over her, yet her results have placed her among the most respected Thai players of her generation.
Moriya Jutanugarn Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Moriya Jutanugarn was born on 28 July 1994 in Bangkok, Thailand. Growing up in the Thai capital, she was introduced to golf at a young age, and the sport quickly became the central focus of her childhood. Her early development in the game was supported by Thailand’s growing junior golf scene, which has produced a number of international-level players over the past two decades.
She is the older sister of Ariya Jutanugarn, a fellow professional golfer who has also achieved significant success on the LPGA Tour. The two sisters trained and competed together throughout their junior years, and their shared dedication to the sport helped both progress to the elite level of women’s golf. Their bond on and off the course has made them one of the more talked-about sibling pairs in the modern game.
Moriya’s early promise was on full display in 2009, when she became the first female to win the Duke of Young Champions Trophy. That victory, coming at the age of 15, established her as a serious talent to watch and helped open doors to higher-level competition.
Path to Professional Golf
Following her historic 2009 victory, Moriya continued to develop her game through amateur tournaments and age-group events. She gained valuable experience competing against top junior players from around the world, which prepared her for the demands of professional golf. Her success at the junior level gave her the confidence to consider a professional career at a young age.
After a successful amateur career, Moriya made the decision to turn professional in 2012. That same year, she began the process of earning playing rights on the LPGA Tour, joining a growing list of Thai players making the transition to the world’s premier women’s golf circuit. Her amateur results had given her a strong platform from which to launch her professional journey.
Moriya Jutanugarn Career
Early Career (2012-2013)
Moriya Jutanugarn turned professional in 2012 and joined the LPGA Tour in 2013. Her rookie season on the tour was a strong one, and she capped it off by being named the LPGA Rookie of the Year for the 2013 season. That award recognized her as the top first-year player on tour and confirmed her status as a rising star in women’s golf.
During this early period, she worked on adjusting to the demands of full-time professional competition, including the travel schedule, the depth of the field, and the pressure of playing for a living. Her steady play during her rookie campaign laid the foundation for the victories that would follow later in her career.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2014-2017)
Following her rookie season, Moriya continued to compete on the LPGA Tour and worked toward her first professional victory. She posted several strong finishes during this period, including a T3 at the 2017 Evian Championship, one of the five major championships in women’s golf. That result demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level of the sport.
Her progress through these years was steady, and she earned a reputation as a consistent player who could contend in major championships and regular tour events alike. While a victory remained elusive, her experience grew with each season, and she positioned herself as a regular contender on leaderboards around the world.
First Win Era (2018-2019)
Moriya’s long-awaited first LPGA Tour victory came in 2018 at the Hugel-JTBC LA Open. The win came in her 156th career start on tour, a testament to her persistence and patience. The victory was a major milestone in her career and was celebrated as a breakthrough moment for one of the tour’s most respected players.
She followed that triumph with other strong major championship performances in 2018, including a T6 at the Chevron Championship and a T11 at the Women’s PGA Championship. These results underscored her ability to compete on the biggest stages in women’s golf.
Recent Career (2020-2024)
In 2020, Moriya recorded a T6 at the U.S. Women’s Open, adding another strong major championship result to her resume. The following year, in July 2021, she secured her second LPGA Tour win at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in Michigan, an event she played alongside her sister Ariya in the team-format competition. The victory was especially meaningful because it was shared with her sister on the course.
In 2021, she also posted a 9th-place finish at the Women’s British Open, continuing her solid play in major championships. Through these years, she has remained a regular presence on the LPGA Tour, contributing to Thailand’s strong reputation in women’s professional golf.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most significant moments of Moriya Jutanugarn’s career came in 2009, when she became the first female to win the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy. She was also named the 2013 LPGA Rookie of the Year and is, along with her sister Ariya, part of the second set of sisters to win on the LPGA Tour, following Charlotta and Annika Sörenstam.
Moriya Jutanugarn Career Wins
Moriya Jutanugarn has accumulated three professional victories during her career, all of which have come on the LPGA Tour. Her wins span from 2018 to 2021, and they reflect both her individual skill and her ability to succeed in team-format events alongside her sister.
LPGA Tour Highlights
Moriya’s first LPGA Tour win came at the 2018 Hugel-JTBC LA Open, a victory she described as a long-awaited breakthrough after years of close calls. Her second win came in July 2021 at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in Michigan, where she teamed with her sister Ariya. Her third LPGA Tour win further cemented her status as a consistent winner on the tour.
Beyond her victories, Moriya has posted several strong finishes in major championships, including a T3 at the 2017 Evian Championship, a T6 at the 2018 Chevron Championship, a T6 at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open, and a 9th at the 2021 Women’s British Open. These results reflect her ability to compete at the highest level of the sport.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| LPGA Tour | 3 | Verified | Not verified |
Moriya Jutanugarn Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Moriya Jutanugarn comes from a Thai family with a strong sporting tradition, most notably through her sister Ariya Jutanugarn, who is also a professional golfer on the LPGA Tour. The two sisters have been a recognizable sibling pair in women’s golf, and they made history as the second set of sisters to win on the LPGA Tour, following Charlotta and Annika Sörenstam.
Personal Life
Moriya Jutanugarn is known for her close relationship with her younger sister, Ariya, with whom she has shared many of the highlights of her professional career. The two have competed together in team-format events, including the 2021 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, which they won. Outside of golf, Moriya is known by the nickname Mo.
2025 Season Performance
As of the 2025 LPGA Tour season, Moriya Jutanugarn continues to compete at the top level of women’s professional golf. With three career LPGA Tour wins already to her name, she remains an established presence on the tour, drawing on more than a decade of experience against the world’s best players. Her career has been defined by steady play and the ability to post strong finishes in major championships, including recent top-ten results in events such as the U.S. Women’s Open and the Women’s British Open.
Looking ahead, Moriya will look to add to her three LPGA Tour victories and continue her strong record in major championships. Her experience in team-format competitions, demonstrated by her win at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, also positions her well for similar events in the future. As one of Thailand’s most experienced tour players, she continues to be a respected figure in the women’s game.
Her partnership with her sister Ariya, both on and off the course, remains a unique storyline in women’s golf, and the two continue to represent Thailand at the highest level of the sport. With consistency and experience on her side, Moriya Jutanugarn remains a player to watch on the LPGA Tour in 2025 and beyond.